Research Catalogue
Welcome to the RSSB research catalogue. The catalogue contains all projects from the 20+ years of the RSSB rail research programme. Please be mindful of the publication date when accessing findings and guidance.
Search by entering a title, keyword(s) or project reference number below (e.g. "wayfinding" or T1010 or COF-INP-05) or use the filters to narrow down options.
Showing for
Applied filters:
Complete (x)
Underway (x)
In Preparation (x)
Safety (x)
Capacity (x)
Cost (x)
Sustainability (x)
Customer (x)
Other - Safety and risk (x)
Attitudes and behaviour (x)
Wheel-rail interface (x)
Risk models (x)
Sustainable development (x)
Customer services for passengers (x)
Train design - Components (x)
Health and wellbeing (x)
Infrastructure asset management (x)
Commercial dynamics of transport (x)
Station design (x)
Other - Policy and decision making (x)
Vehicle track dynamics (x)
Movement of trains (x)
Adhesion (x)
Adaptation to climate change (x)
Culture (x)
Human performance (x)
Track design and components (x)
Selection and training (x)
Train design - Structure and crashworthiness (x)
Whole system design and modelling (x)
Customer services for freight (x)
Data and communications systems (x)
Operation of road-rail interfaces including level crossings (x)
Power supply (x)
Rolling stock maintenance (x)
Traffic supervision and management (x)
Human reliability (x)
Job design (x)
Braking systems (x)
Structures (x)
Other - Energy and electrification (x)
Security management (x)
Future technologies (x)
Equipment workplace and environmental design (x)
Other - Rolling stock (x)
Railways Interoperability (x)
Operational Safety (x)
Other - Control command and communication (x)
Value from data (x)
Other - Infrastructure (x)
Other - Operations (x)
Rolling stock testing (x)
Social dynamics of transport (x)
Stations management and passenger flow (x)
Rolling stock asset management (x)
Rolling stock passenger comfort (x)
Rolling stock condition monitoring and inspection (x)
Energy collection systems (x)
Other - People behaviour and health (x)
Movement authorities and signalling systems (x)
Overhead line equipment (x)
Aerodynamics (x)
Accident investigation and learning (x)
Control and display systems (x)
Safety data analysis (x)
Safety data collection (x)
Other - Interfaces (x)
Rail Standardisation (x)
Safety decision support (x)
Education and competence (x)
Rolling stock fire performance (x)
On board power supplies and monitoring (x)
Revenue and ticketing (x)
Smart grids and energy harvesting (x)
Electrical safety (x)
Rolling stock interiors (x)
Signalling - Train detection systems (x)
CCC system integration and life cycle management (x)
CCC asset management (x)
Signalling - Train protection systems (x)
Derailment (x)
Keeping on-track staff safe (x)
Signalling - People protection and warning systems including level crossings (x)
Gauging (x)
Trespass (x)
Human Factors in event reporting (x)
Energy metering and billing (x)
ADHERE (x)
PERFORM (x)
DECARB (x)
FREIGHT (x)
CLEAR (x)
Enabling AI in Rail (x)
RESILIENT (x)
FUTURE RISK (x)
Clear date filter (x)
Status
Topics
-
Control Command and Communication
- CCC asset management (4)
- CCC system integration and life cycle management (5)
- Control and display systems (16)
- Data and communications systems (47)
- Movement authorities and signalling systems (19)
- Other - Control command and communication (36)
- Signalling - People protection and warning systems including level crossings (2)
- Signalling - Train detection systems (5)
- Signalling - Train protection systems (4)
- Energy and Electrification
- Infrastructure
- Interfaces
-
Operations
- Customer services for freight (48)
- Customer services for passengers (102)
- Keeping on-track staff safe (3)
- Movement of trains (60)
- Operation of road-rail interfaces including level crossings (46)
- Operational Safety (36)
- Other - Operations (33)
- Revenue and ticketing (8)
- Security management (40)
- Stations management and passenger flow (30)
- Traffic supervision and management (44)
-
People Behaviour and Health
- Attitudes and behaviour (129)
- Culture (57)
- Education and competence (9)
- Equipment workplace and environmental design (37)
- Health and wellbeing (93)
- Human Factors in event reporting (1)
- Human performance (55)
- Human reliability (44)
- Job design (43)
- Selection and training (51)
- Trespass (1)
- Other - People behaviour and health (20)
- Policy and Decision Making
-
Rolling stock
- Braking systems (42)
- On board power supplies and monitoring (8)
- Rolling stock asset management (29)
- Rolling stock condition monitoring and inspection (28)
- Rolling stock fire performance (9)
- Rolling stock interiors (5)
- Rolling stock maintenance (45)
- Rolling stock passenger comfort (29)
- Rolling stock testing (33)
- Train design - Components (93)
- Train design - Structure and crashworthiness (50)
- Other - Rolling stock (37)
- Safety and Risk
Programme
Date
From: To:
Sort By:
Results per page:
Research Project
T1370
End Date: 2026
Underway
Registered
Developments in the use of on-train satellite positioning technology based locators (T1370)
Research Project
T1396
End Date: 2026
Underway
This research will update and expand on the evidence base surrounding underline bridge strikes. It will assess existing mitigations and identify… Read More
Research Project
T1349
End Date: 2026
Underway
A new framework to help industry define, measure, and improve data interoperability. Read More
Research Project
T1378
End Date: 2026
Underway
Registered
How do professional driving policies for locomotive-hauled trains change under ETCS (T1378)
Research Project
T1381
End Date: 2026
Underway
Looking at whether these standard freight gauges can be refined, including a contemporary assessment of vehicle dynamics and a review of the wagon and… Read More
Research Project
T1384
End Date: 2026
Underway
Enabling the industry to develop and deploy a tool to help signallers with regulation, reducing delays. Read More
Research Project
COF-UOS-06
End Date: 2026
Underway
A PhD studentship looking at how contaminated rail conditions change with the weather, as well as how contamination develops and the linked changes to… Read More
Research Project
T1390
End Date: 2026
Underway
Trialling and gaining approval for a simplified, low-cost signalling solution, to encourage growth in rail freight. Read More
Research Project
T1394
End Date: 2026
Underway
This project will develop a set of standardised platform interface arrangements for tram-train operations in Great Britain. It will support
future… Read More
Research Project
T1376
End Date: 2026
Underway
Helping industry prepare for FRMCS and exploit the new system capabilities. Read More
Showing for
Applied filters:
Complete (x)
Underway (x)
In Preparation (x)
Safety (x)
Capacity (x)
Cost (x)
Sustainability (x)
Customer (x)
Other - Safety and risk (x)
Risk models (x)
Wheel-rail interface (x)
Attitudes and behaviour (x)
Sustainable development (x)
Train design - Components (x)
Infrastructure asset management (x)
Customer services for passengers (x)
Health and wellbeing (x)
Commercial dynamics of transport (x)
Vehicle track dynamics (x)
Movement of trains (x)
Station design (x)
Other - Policy and decision making (x)
Human performance (x)
Adhesion (x)
Whole system design and modelling (x)
Track design and components (x)
Operation of road-rail interfaces including level crossings (x)
Selection and training (x)
Culture (x)
Train design - Structure and crashworthiness (x)
Data and communications systems (x)
Customer services for freight (x)
Rolling stock maintenance (x)
Structures (x)
Other - Control command and communication (x)
Adaptation to climate change (x)
Job design (x)
Other - Energy and electrification (x)
Traffic supervision and management (x)
Security management (x)
Human reliability (x)
Equipment workplace and environmental design (x)
Braking systems (x)
Operational Safety (x)
Power supply (x)
Railways Interoperability (x)
Stations management and passenger flow (x)
Other - Rolling stock (x)
Other - Operations (x)
Rolling stock testing (x)
Value from data (x)
Social dynamics of transport (x)
Rolling stock asset management (x)
Rolling stock passenger comfort (x)
Rolling stock condition monitoring and inspection (x)
Other - Infrastructure (x)
Future technologies (x)
Movement authorities and signalling systems (x)
Control and display systems (x)
Other - People behaviour and health (x)
Aerodynamics (x)
Overhead line equipment (x)
Energy collection systems (x)
Safety data analysis (x)
Safety data collection (x)
Other - Interfaces (x)
Safety decision support (x)
Accident investigation and learning (x)
Rail Standardisation (x)
Education and competence (x)
Rolling stock fire performance (x)
Rolling stock interiors (x)
Signalling - Train detection systems (x)
CCC system integration and life cycle management (x)
Electrical safety (x)
CCC asset management (x)
Signalling - Train protection systems (x)
On board power supplies and monitoring (x)
Smart grids and energy harvesting (x)
Derailment (x)
Keeping on-track staff safe (x)
Revenue and ticketing (x)
Signalling - People protection and warning systems including level crossings (x)
Gauging (x)
Trespass (x)
Human Factors in event reporting (x)
Energy metering and billing (x)
ADHERE (x)
PERFORM (x)
DECARB (x)
FREIGHT (x)
CLEAR (x)
Enabling AI in Rail (x)
FUTURE RISK (x)
RESILIENT (x)
Clear date filter (x)
Status
Topics
-
Control Command and Communication
- CCC asset management (4)
- CCC system integration and life cycle management (5)
- Control and display systems (16)
- Data and communications systems (41)
- Movement authorities and signalling systems (17)
- Other - Control command and communication (35)
- Signalling - People protection and warning systems including level crossings (2)
- Signalling - Train detection systems (5)
- Signalling - Train protection systems (4)
- Energy and Electrification
- Infrastructure
- Interfaces
-
Operations
- Customer services for freight (39)
- Customer services for passengers (73)
- Keeping on-track staff safe (2)
- Movement of trains (55)
- Operation of road-rail interfaces including level crossings (44)
- Operational Safety (29)
- Other - Operations (26)
- Revenue and ticketing (2)
- Security management (32)
- Stations management and passenger flow (28)
- Traffic supervision and management (32)
-
People Behaviour and Health
- Attitudes and behaviour (100)
- Culture (43)
- Education and competence (7)
- Equipment workplace and environmental design (32)
- Health and wellbeing (67)
- Human Factors in event reporting (1)
- Human performance (48)
- Human reliability (32)
- Job design (34)
- Selection and training (44)
- Trespass (1)
- Other - People behaviour and health (16)
- Policy and Decision Making
-
Rolling stock
- Braking systems (29)
- On board power supplies and monitoring (3)
- Rolling stock asset management (23)
- Rolling stock condition monitoring and inspection (22)
- Rolling stock fire performance (7)
- Rolling stock interiors (5)
- Rolling stock maintenance (36)
- Rolling stock passenger comfort (22)
- Rolling stock testing (26)
- Train design - Components (76)
- Train design - Structure and crashworthiness (43)
- Other - Rolling stock (28)
- Safety and Risk
Programme
Date
From: To:
Sort By:
Results per page:
Research Project
T154
End Date: 2003
Complete
Reviewing a report that suggested that an artificially illuminated white backboard would make signals more conspicuous to drivers than is the case… Read More
Research Project
T129
End Date: 2003
Complete
This research investigates how an escape hatch could be incorporated into the window of a typical vehicle, using a practical arrangement that… Read More
Research Project
T120
End Date: 2003
Complete
This project quantifies the risks associated with the carriage of diesel fuel on passenger trains, and identifies viable risk mitigation measures… Read More
Research Project
T230a
End Date: 2003
Complete
A review of ethical considerations underlying public opinion regarding railway safety and decision-making. Read More
Research Project
T258
End Date: 2003
Complete
Registered
Development of competence assessment criteria for supervisors in safety critical roles (T258)
Research Project
T246
End Date: 2003
Complete
This project produced a common set of passenger safety signs suitable for use on existing rail vehicles, made them available to the industry through a… Read More
Research Project
T126
End Date: 2003
Complete
Surveying current practices in safety decision-making to identify and promulgate good practice, and to identify training needs to support decision… Read More
Research Project
T124
End Date: 2003
Complete
Registered
Review of tank wagon end protection (T124)
Research Project
T255
End Date: 2003
Complete
Investigating the seasonal peak in SPADs experienced in May during recent years, and searching for correlations with causal factors. Read More
Research Project
T248
End Date: 2003
Complete
This project conducted a 'desk top' review of past and current research into the effects of train slipstreams on platforms and how other railway… Read More
Showing for
Applied filters:
Complete (x)
Underway (x)
In Preparation (x)
Safety (x)
Capacity (x)
Cost (x)
Sustainability (x)
Customer (x)
Attitudes and behaviour (x)
Health and wellbeing (x)
Other - Safety and risk (x)
Customer services for passengers (x)
Other - Policy and decision making (x)
Station design (x)
Sustainable development (x)
Adaptation to climate change (x)
Other - Infrastructure (x)
Future technologies (x)
Culture (x)
Infrastructure asset management (x)
Train design - Components (x)
Power supply (x)
Wheel-rail interface (x)
Rolling stock maintenance (x)
Human reliability (x)
Commercial dynamics of transport (x)
Railways Interoperability (x)
Track design and components (x)
Security management (x)
Social dynamics of transport (x)
Other - Rolling stock (x)
Other - Operations (x)
Rolling stock passenger comfort (x)
Accident investigation and learning (x)
Job design (x)
Traffic supervision and management (x)
Braking systems (x)
Rolling stock asset management (x)
Structures (x)
Operational Safety (x)
Rolling stock condition monitoring and inspection (x)
Train design - Structure and crashworthiness (x)
Value from data (x)
Vehicle track dynamics (x)
Risk models (x)
Adhesion (x)
Equipment workplace and environmental design (x)
Rolling stock testing (x)
Energy collection systems (x)
Human performance (x)
Customer services for freight (x)
Other - People behaviour and health (x)
Smart grids and energy harvesting (x)
Selection and training (x)
Other - Energy and electrification (x)
Overhead line equipment (x)
Whole system design and modelling (x)
Education and competence (x)
Operation of road-rail interfaces including level crossings (x)
Revenue and ticketing (x)
Stations management and passenger flow (x)
Data and communications systems (x)
Electrical safety (x)
Aerodynamics (x)
Rolling stock fire performance (x)
Rail Standardisation (x)
Other - Interfaces (x)
Safety data collection (x)
Movement authorities and signalling systems (x)
Safety data analysis (x)
Movement of trains (x)
Rolling stock interiors (x)
Derailment (x)
Signalling - Train detection systems (x)
On board power supplies and monitoring (x)
Safety decision support (x)
Keeping on-track staff safe (x)
CCC asset management (x)
Control and display systems (x)
Signalling - People protection and warning systems including level crossings (x)
CCC system integration and life cycle management (x)
Gauging (x)
Signalling - Train protection systems (x)
Trespass (x)
Human Factors in event reporting (x)
Other - Control command and communication (x)
Energy metering and billing (x)
ADHERE (x)
CLEAR (x)
FUTURE RISK (x)
DECARB (x)
PERFORM (x)
RESILIENT (x)
Enabling AI in Rail (x)
FREIGHT (x)
Clear date filter (x)
Status
Objectives
Topics
- Control Command and Communication
- Energy and Electrification
- Infrastructure
- Interfaces
-
Operations
- Customer services for freight (4)
- Customer services for passengers (18)
- Movement of trains (1)
- Operation of road-rail interfaces including level crossings (2)
- Operational Safety (6)
- Other - Operations (7)
- Revenue and ticketing (2)
- Security management (8)
- Stations management and passenger flow (2)
- Traffic supervision and management (6)
- People Behaviour and Health
- Policy and Decision Making
-
Rolling stock
- Braking systems (6)
- Rolling stock asset management (6)
- Rolling stock condition monitoring and inspection (6)
- Rolling stock fire performance (2)
- Rolling stock maintenance (9)
- Rolling stock passenger comfort (7)
- Rolling stock testing (4)
- Train design - Components (10)
- Train design - Structure and crashworthiness (6)
- Other - Rolling stock (8)
- Safety and Risk
Programme
Date
From: To:
Sort By:
Results per page:
Knowledge Search
S393
End Date: 2025
Complete
Insights into neurodiversity and options for supporting job candidates and staff. Read More
Knowledge Search
S389
End Date: 2025
Complete
New developments in technologies that can be used to detect and prevent trespass incidents. Read More
Knowledge Search
S390
End Date: 2025
Complete
Helping industry to make sound HVAC investment decisions under tightening environmental standards. Read More
Knowledge Search
S380
End Date: 2025
Complete
Registered
Hydrogen as a combustion fuel (S380)
Knowledge Search
S387
End Date: 2025
Complete
Looking at the levels of CO2 in passenger carriages, and whether current standards ensure passenger health and comfort. Read More
Knowledge Search
S386
End Date: 2025
Complete
Registered
Freight train braking (S386)
Knowledge Search
S381
End Date: 2025
Complete
An overview of the factors that affect the build-up of leaf fall contamination, the relationship between different types of contamination, and the… Read More
Knowledge Search
S388
End Date: 2025
Complete
Looking for scientific evidence that people get more tired after meals, and what might mititgate any risks. Read More
Knowledge Search
S384
End Date: 2024
Complete
Could personal health monitoring devices reduce the wearer’s risk of incapacity and allow them to return to work? Read More
Knowledge Search
S385
End Date: 2024
Complete
The potential of body armour to protect rail staff against violent incidents. Read More